Nipple-inserting machine



June 17, 1930. E. E. GOLD NIPPLE: INSERTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1928 By Attorneys,

Patented June 1.7, 1930 UNITED STATES PAINT OFFICE IDWARD E. GOLD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNOK To vGOLD OAR HEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK NIPPLE-INSERTING :MACHINE Application sied July 1o, 192e. seriai N9. 291,647.

This invention relates to -a machine adapted to insert nipples in the opposite ends of curved flexible tubing such, for example, as the flexible train 4pipe connections disclosed in a pending application Serial No. 291,648, sled Ju1y 10, 1928.

It has been the practice, when inserting nipples in the opposite ends `of a piece of straight tubing, to clamp the tubing in the holder with one end directed towards a nipple-inserting ram, and, after one nipple has been inserted, to reverse the position o-the tubing in the holder so that a nipple may be inserted in the Opposite end by the same ram. When thus inserting nipples in a piece of straight tubing it was not necessary to change the relative positions of the tubeholder and the nipple-inserting ram, each of which was premanently mounted on a suitable support.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine in which nipples may be inserted in the Opposite ends of a tube of variable curvature such that a mere reversal of the tube in the tube-holder would not properly position its ends with respect to the nippleinserting ram. This end has been attained by substituting, for the stationary tube-holder, a holder which may be rotated with respect to the ram and secured in successive positions with the Opposite ends of the tube acing in the same direction, and'by providing the ram with a vnipple-holder having means adapte-d to hold anipple in either of two positions corresponding with the positions of the opposite ends of the tube as successively presented.

In the accompanying drawing lillustrating the preferred form of the invention,-

Figure 1 is a top view of a nipple-inserting machine embodying the invention, the ram being illustrated at the rightV and the .tubeholder at the left in a position to present one end of a tube in readiness tov receive a nipple, the ram being illustratedA in cross section and the nipple-holder in one of its two nipple-inserting positions.

Fig. 2 is a like view of the machine, a portiony of the ram being omitted, the holder being represented in a position such as to present the opposite end of the tube in readiness to receive a nipple, and the .nipple-holder being represented in the other of its two positions corresponding with the change of position of the tube end.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view o the tube-holder, the section being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and viewed vin the direction indicated by thearrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the tube-holder, the section being taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tube-holder, the section being taken along the curved aXis 5 5 of the holder (Fig. l) and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The invention as herein disclosed comprises a tube-holder 20 and a nipple-inserter 2l mounted in a cooperative relation, as indicated in Figs. l and 2. The tube-holder 20 consists of a rotatable member or turn-table 22 pivotally secured to a base or mounting member 23, which may be secured to a suitable support by fastening means passed through openings 24:. The pivotal connection between the turn-table and the base may comprisev apin 25 having one end held fast in the turn-table by frictional engagement and the other end swiveled in the base. The lower end of the pinmaybeprovided with a head 26'to lprevent the separation of the turn-table from the base without withdrawing the end yof the pin from the turn-table.

A The upper part of the turn-table comprises a pair 'oftube-clainping elements 27, 28 of a curvature conforming-with that of the tube to be held. These clamping elements may be sepa-rably connected in any appropriate manner, as by hinges 29 and detachable clampsecuring `elements 30. Each of the securing elements 30, as best indicated in Figs. land 3, mayV consist of a pair of links 31 pivotally secured at one end to the lower clamping element 27 and pivotally secured at theiropposite ends to an eccentric end portion 32 of a handle 33. Y On rotating the handle 33 in a Vclockwise direction as indicated in Fig. 3, its

eccentric end portion 32 will be moved free from its engaging relation with the depressed portion 34 of the upper clamping element 28, thus permitting the links 31 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and causethe eccentric element 32 of the clamp-securing device to be moved clear of the clamping element 28 and permit the same to be swung about its hinges 29 to an open position, after which a tube 35 may be linserted or removed.

According to the invention as herein disclosed, the holderv is of a form adapted to receive a tube 35 of reverse curvature, the radius of curvature being different. in different parts of the tube. At its opposite ends the tube is provided with relatively short portions 36,37 of rectilinear form, each adapted to receive a nipple 38.v

Suitable means-may be provided whereby the turn-table may be secured in a fixed relation with respect tothe base in different positions such as to successively hold the tube 35 with its` opposite. ends 36, 37 facingi-n the Ysame direction in readiness to receive ar nipple. One; appropriate form of fastening device, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 andV 4, comprises a pair of locking pins 39, which,y when the turn-table is in the position indicated in Fig.. 1,v may be passed through openings 40 in the turn-.table and registering openings 41 in the base. When thev turn-table. hasl been rotatedl to the position indicated in Fig. 2 in order to place the end 37 of the tube. in its nipple-inserting position, the ends of the-pins 39 whicliwere originally received by the openings 41 in the base member may be inserted and held in openings 42, which should register with the openings 40 after the change in position of the turn-table has been effected. The nipple-inserting device 21, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, may be in the form of a ram 43 mounted for reciprocati'on in a cylinder 44 closed at its rear end by a cylinder head 45 securedto the cylinder by machine screws or other suitable fastening devices 46.

The chamber in the cylinder to the rear of the ram may be rendered. huid-tight by packing'47 of any appropriate character, securedk in place by suitable fasteningv means which may consist of a disk 48 and screws 49.

v To provide for the nipple-inserting movement of the ram and 'its withdrawal after inserting 'a nipple, the cylinder may comprisev `means whereby liquid' or yother fluid maybe admitted andy exhausted. As herein disclosed, such means consists of a pressure pipe 50, an exhaust pipe 51, av connection 52,v and 'a two-way valve 53- adapted to put the conjnection 52 in direct communication with either the pressure pipe 50 or the exhaust pipe 51 at will.

The nipple-inserting device 21 is intended ki to be purely conventional and therefore repopposite ends of the tube 35'. n It will be observed that although the ends 36,37 of the tube 35 face in the same direction as positioned inFigs. 1 and 2, respectively, the centers ofthe tube ends are materially spaced apart so as to be differently positioned with respect to the ram. In order that nipples may be inserte'dfin both ends of the tube by the same ram,the invention inchicles means whereby a nipple may be held by the ram-in either of two positions corresponding with the respectivepositions ofthe opposite ends of the tube as successively presented. In the form of the invention herein disclosed, this has been accomplished by providin'g the forward "end of the ram with'an eccentric nipple-holder 54;A The nippleholder may be swiveled in the `face of the ram by means, of. a pin-and-,s'ocket connection 55, 56, andthe nipple-holder may be provided with, an eccentrically-positioned nipple-receiving socket 57 which may beshifted from the position indicated in Fig. 1 tothe position indicated in Fig. 2 byA arotati-on of the nipple-holder in the socket 56. y

In view of the foregoing description, the operationV of the device need be but briefly outlined. The tube in which'nipples are to be inserted is first placed V in the tube-holder 20, the jaws of which are clamped together by the securingdevicesf30. Theholder is then rotated to the position indicated in' Fig. 1 and the pins 39 dropped into'the openings 41 inthe base. A nipple is then inserted in the socket 57 of Vthe nipple-holder, which should be positioned as indicated in Fig. 1

and the valve 5,3 so turned as to permit f1uidto pass from the pressure pipe 50 linto the cylinder of the nipple-inserting device 21, thereby causing the ram to move forwardand force soy the nipple into. the end 36 ofthe tube. The Y inserted nipple may be securely fastened in the end of the tube by any appropriate clamping. device indicated generallyat 58? (Fig. 2);.

' After a nipple'has been inserted'in' one end of the tube when 'placed inthe position indi'-, cated. in Fig. r1, thepins 39j maybe lifted so. as to be withdrawn fromthe openings l41 in the base plate and the turn-'table rotated to the position indicated in F ig. 2, after which the pins may be dropped into the openings 42, thereby securing the turn-table in the new position. YA second nipple may then be inserted in the socket 5.7"of`the nipple-holder 54- and the latterfshifted from the position indicated in Fig. 1 to the position indicated in Figf2, afterv which, onadniission of pressurebehind the ram, the second nipple. may' be inserted and Yfastened by a clamp similar to the one indicated aty the lowerl left-hand corner of Fig. 2. 1 f l .Y After eachlinsertion'of a nipple,the'ram may be withdrawn by rotating the v valve 53 Vto the `Vposition indicated in Fig. L1 so as to bring theconnection52 into communication with the exhaust pipe 51 and permit'the "liquidy to drain from the cylinder. The return of the ram may be expedited by the application of pressure to the end in which the nipple-holder is mounted.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred form herein disclosed for purposes of illustration but should be regarded as covering modifications and variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for inserting nipples in the opposite ends of curved tubes, comprising a ram, a turn-table mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said ram, tube-clamping means on said turn-table whereby a curved tube may be secured thereto, means whereby said table may be successively secured in positions with the opposite ends of said tube facing in the same direction, and a nipple-holder on said ram comprising means whereby a nipple may be held in either of two positions registering respectively with the opposite ends of said tube as successively presented.

2. A machine for inserting nipples in the opposite ends of curved tubes, comprising a ram having a nipple-holder eccentrically mounted therein, a turn-table mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said ram, tube-clamping means on said table whereby a curved tube may be secured thereto, and means whereby said table may be successively secured in positions with the opposite ends of said tube facing in the same direction, the relative positions of said rain and table and the eccentricity of said nipple-holder being such that a nipple held by the latter may be caused to align with either of the ends of said tube when presented..

3. A machine for inserting nipples in the opposite ends of curved tubes, comprising a rotatable tube-holder in which a curved tube may be secured and successively held with its opposite ends facing in the same direction, in positions separated to an extent dependent on the curvature of the tube, a nipple-inserting ram so mounted with respect to said holder that an extension of its longitudinal axis would pass midway between the said successive positions of said tube ends, and an adjustable nipple-holder eccentrically mounted in said ram and shiftable to positions adapted to center a nipple held thereby with either of the opposite ends of said tube when presented.

4. A tube-holder adapted for use as a part of means whereby nipples may be inserted in the opposite ends of curved tubes, said holder comprising a base, a turn-table pivotally mounted on said base, clamping means whereby a curved tube may be secured to said table with the plane of its curved longitudinal axis perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and coupling means whereby said table may be secured to said base in either of two positions so related that it may be held fast in successive positions with the opposite ends of the tube facing in the same direction.

5. A nipple-inserting ram adapted for use as a part of means wherebyA nipples may be inserted in the opposite ends of curved tubing, said ram having a nipple-holder eccentrically mounted therein adapted to be shifted to positions such as to hold a nipple in either of two laterally separated positions with its axis parallel but non-coincident with the axis of movement of the ram.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EDWARD E. GOLD. 

